Culture is a broad subject with a meaning of many different things. It is a combination of one's ideas, values, practices, and beliefs. Culture is something we are born into and taught from a very young age. It's what makes us who we are and how we live. Culture is the traditions we believe in and practice on a daily basis. For example, some cultures believe in having close family ties, while others do not. Some cultures believe in celebrating Christmas and others believe in celebrating Hanukkah. Culture also influences a person's educational background. If a child is brought up in a family of scholars, then the odds are they will probably be exposed to some educational learning. Cultures influence the way we learn and interact with others. Styles of nonverbal communication are also an important aspect of cultural identity (Banks and Banks, 1995). A pat on the shoulder or a hug can be interpreted in many ways to different cultural backgrounds. Culture can also play a role in the foods we prefer and or disapprove of. For instance, pork is forbidden in most Indian cultures. Culture helps define the social boundaries and characteristics of different groups.
Multicultural education is a field of study and an emerging discipline whose major aim is to create equal educational opportunities for students from diverse racial, ethnic, social-class, and cultural groups (Banks, 1999, p. 7). The purpose of multicultural education is to help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively and communicate with people from diverse groups. It is anti-racist and vital for both majority and minority students to be exposed to. Multicultural education is designed to help prepare all students to participate in a cultural society. It is an educational strategy that utilizes students' cultures to develop effective classroom instruction, and teachers must be equipped to facilitate learning for every student.
Multicultural education is...